Pile-truss.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. LANGRIDGE, OF WYAOONDA, MISSOURI.

PlLE-TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 691 ,392 dated January21, 1902.

Application filed February 4, 1901. Serial No. 46,010. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. LANG- RIDGE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Wyaconda, in the county of Clark, State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trusses; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to trusses in general, and more particularly totrusses used in treating piles, the object of the invention being toprovide a simple, cheap, and efficient construction wherein a pneumaticpad will be held pressed with proper pressure against the affected partsto prevent them from protruding.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in whichlike numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views,Figure 1 is a perspective View showing the complete device. Fig. 2 is asection taken longitudinally through the pad. Fig. 3 is a section takentransversely through the pad. I

Referring now to the drawings, the present truss comprises a belt 5,which is adapted to be strapped around the waist of the wearer, and tothis belt are connected two suspending straps 6 and 7 through the mediumof short strap-sections 8, 9, 10, and 11, which are connected directlyto the belt and have buckles at their free ends for engagement with theends of the straps 6 and 7. The straps 6'and 7 are adapted to lie withtheir central portions in close relation and with their end portionsdiverging upwardly,so that the central portions may lie between the legsof the wearer.

The pad consists of a sleeve 15, which is formed of a rubber sheetpassed entirely around the straps at their central portions, and theends of which sheet are overlapped and glued, the sleeve being likewiseglued firmly to the straps. The overlapped portions of the sheet are onthe underside of the straps and act to present a comparatively resistantwall. In the upper side of the sleeve is formed an opening 16, andagainst the inner face of this upper side of the sleeve is glued a pieceof sheet-rubber 17, the edges of which are glued fast to the straps, sothat between this piece 17 of rubber and the reinforced lower wall ofthe sleeve there is formed anair-pocket, and when this 'air-pocket isfilled with air under pressure it causes the rubber 17 to bulg'e outthrough the opening in the upper side of the sleeve to form the convexportion of the pad. The straps are of elastic material, and by adjustingthem through the buckles the proper position of the pad and the properpressure thereof against the affected parts may be secured.

What is claimed is- 1. A truss comprising a belt, straps connected withthe belt, an elastic sleeve inclosing the central portions of the strapsand having an opening in the upper side thereof, and an elastic sheethermetically sealed over the opening at the inner side thereof andhaving its edges secured against the straps and the inner face of thesleeve and hermetically sealed to form an air-tight pocket, whereby whenair is admitted under pressure, the sheet will be projected above andthrough the sleeve.

2. A truss comprising a belt, straps connected to the belt and havingtheir central portions disposed side by side and in close relation, asleeve encircling the central portions of the straps and consisting of asheet of elastic material passed around the central portions of thestraps and having its ends overlapped against the under sides of thestraps to reinforce the thickness of the sleeve, said sleeve having anopening in its upper side communicating with the interspace between thestraps, and a sheet of elastic secured to the straps and sleeve againstthe inner face of the sleeve and covering the opening, the edges of saidsheet being secured to form an air-holding chamber between it and theunder side of the sleeve, whereby when the chamber is inflated, theinner sheet will be forced through the opening of the sleeve.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES W. LANGRIDGE. Witnesses:

M. L. KURTZ, W. H. CAIN.

